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MOVIE REVIEW
While not exactly a golden rule, it is known fact that if a movie does well in the box office, chances are good that it will be followed by sequel and more often than not, we’ve come to expect that the sequel won’t measure up to the original. Add a third movie to the mix and you’re just asking for trouble. With animated movies, the expectations are often even lower. (Is anyone really surprised that the Ice Age movies keep getting worse?) But sometimes, as is the case with the Disney/Pixar Toy Story movies, we’re pleasantly surprised. Now you can add How to Train Your Dragon to that short list too.

One thing that DreamWorks Animation has understood about this series is that the story comes first, the hijinks come later. The very first Dragon movie proved that way back in 2010 with a strong story and with each chapter that has come after it, that story just keeps getting better. What started out as a cute kid’s story has become a powerful trilogy. We've seen these chara…

NBC Hosts a Night of Fun and Games for Charity

TV

Thursday is another night of fun, mayhem and charity in NBC’s fourth annual telecast of Red Nose Day specials where celebrities of TV, movies and music come together to raise funds for kids living in poverty. The three-hour event begins with the second annual edition of Celebrity Ninja Warrior, followed by a special edition of Hollywood Game Night and then the big Red Nose Day Special that will broadcast live from Rockefller Plaza in New York City.

Red Nose Day was created by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning writer-director Richard Curtis, (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill). It has raised more than $1 billion globally since its launch 30 years ago in the U.K. in 1988. It is a culmination of a seven-week fundraising campaign, which brings together millions of Americans around the country to have fun and make a difference.

Akba Gbajabiamila on the course. (NBC)

Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day
Beginning at 8:00 p.m., the American Ninja Warrior special will be hosted by Matt Iseman and Kristine Leahy as usual co-host, Akbar Gbajabiamila will be running the course this year. While this will be Akbar’s first time on the course it will be Derek Hough’s (World of Dance) second time on the course. They will be joined by Grammy Award winner NE-YO (World of Dance), WWE Star Nikki Bella, Colton Dunn (Superstore), Scott Evans (Access), Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin and Gregg Sulkin (Runaways).

Elite ninjas will return to support and mentor their partner as they take on the physical and mental challenges of the course. Kevin Bull (coaching Akbar), Drew Drechsel (coaching NE-YO), Natalie Duran (coaching Colton), Meagan Martin (coaching Derek), Grant McCartney (coaching Nikki), Flip Rodriguez (coaching Scott), Barclay Stockett (coaching Nastia) and Maggie Thorne (coaching Gregg) will help the celebrities through a grueling set of obstacles including the floating steps, the spinning bridge and the iconic warped wall.

Host Jane Lynch and Jack Black (NBC)

Hollywood Game Night
Beginning at 9:00 p.m. this edition of Hollywood Game Night, will be played a bit differently than what we are used to. The team that gets the most points in each game earns money to be donated to Red Nose Day. At the end of five rounds, the team that’s earned the most money will go on to play a special Celebrity Name Game for the chance to raise even more funds.

The Red Nose Day Special
Finally, the night finishes off with the mother of all telethons where various celebrities will be taking the calls for donations for the night. Chris Hardwick will serve again as host and celebrity appearances include Jack Black, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Bell, Kelly Clarkson, Julia Roberts, Ed Sheeran, Marlon Wayans, Sean Hayes, Ellie Kemper, Zooey Deschanel, Tony Hale, Sasheer Zamata, Jane Lynch, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Matt Iseman and Jack McBrayer. Funds raised support programs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and some of the poorest communities internationally to ensure that children who are living in poverty are safe, healthy and educated.

The one-hour special will include Kelly Clarkson visiting a local elementary school to celebrate students who are raising money for Red Nose Day, while helping them realize their power to make a difference and inspire positive change for children who are in need. Clarkson will visit a third-grade classroom, attend a Red Nose Day Rally and participate in a student-run fair featuring fun and creative activities to raise funds for Red Nose Day. Clarkson and the kids will team up to shine a light on all of the amazing students who make a difference.

Julia Roberts shares the story of Devine, a little boy who lives in Liberia who suffered from severe malnutrition. Thanks to donations to Red Nose Day, he has the chance at a healthy childhood.
Ed Sheeran, a long-time supporter of Red Nose Day in both the U.K. and U.S., will help to highlight the issues facing so many homeless children around the world who are living without access to education or safe shelter — and how Red Nose Day funds can help.

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MOVIES
It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since everything was awesome, at least in the world of Lego as seen in the original Lego Movie. Since then Lego-themed movies have been released, none of which have been as popular, lucrative or received as much praise from critics as the original.

Now the gang is back in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part but everything appears to be less awesome as Bricksburg has become Apocalypseburg and is getting worse when this world is threatened by Lego Duplo invaders from outer space. Still, just like is real life, Legos can always rebuild.

It takes a lot of physical and CGI Legos to create a movie. Here is a breakdown on how that looks:

2: The number of characters Chris Pratt, Stephanie Beatriz and Alison Brie play in the film. (Pratt plays Emmet and Rex Dangervest, Beatriz plays General Mayhem and Sweet Mayhem and Brie plays Unikitty and Ultrakitty)

3: The number of times Will Arnett has voiced the role of Batman in a Lego movie.

TVAmerica’s Got Talent: The Champions brought back 50 of the best acts from the different world versions of the show to compete one more time for the chance to win a really impressive (or tall) trophy, $25,000 cash and pretty incredible bragging rights. The two-hour presentation began with an hour full of filler of past acts, silly bits and interviews with the dozen remaining acts hoping to win.

Soon the 12 was whittled down to five including ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer, sand artist Kseniya Imonova, card magician Shin Lim, singer Cristina Ramos and comedian Preacher Lawson. And during the show’s last five minutes of the show the winner was revealed.